Here’s a clear summary of what the Clever Real Estate survey found about retirement savings and expectations — and how it reveals a widening gap between what retirees think is needed to retire comfortably and what most actually have:

📊 Key Findings from the Clever Real Estate Survey

• Retirees say $823,800 is needed to retire comfortably in 2026.
  This is the average amount retirees believe someone needs in savings and investments to have a comfortable retirement — up sharply from about $580,310 last year.
• But the reality is far lower:
  The average retiree actually has only about $288,700 saved. That’s roughly one-third of what many believe is necessary.
• Nearly one in three retirees has no retirement savings at all.
  About 29% of those surveyed reported having zero saved for retirement.
• Expectations continue to rise while savings stagnate or fall.
  The perceived amount needed jumped by nearly $250,000 in a year, even as the average savings figure edged down since last year.
• Many retirees feel a retirement crisis is underway.
  A majority believe the U.S. is facing a retirement crisis, and 92% say most people underestimate how much money is needed for a comfortable retirement.

📉 What This Gap Means

• The survey highlights a significant disconnect between retirees’ expectations and their actual financial preparedness — a gap that has widened over recent years.
• This may reflect rising costs of living, healthcare concerns, inflation, and other pressures that strain retirement budgets.
• It also suggests that many retirees might need to adjust spending, consider part-time work, or rely more on Social Security and other income sources in retirement.